A strategy of rupture with ‘euro-liberalism and an alternative Europe Özlem Onaran Based on a joint manifesto:

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Presentation on theme: "A strategy of rupture with ‘euro-liberalism and an alternative Europe Özlem Onaran Based on a joint manifesto:"— Presentation transcript:

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A strategy of rupture with ‘euro-liberalism and an alternative Europe Özlem Onaran Based on a joint manifesto: http://tinyurl.com/euro13

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Engage in the debate about the EU institutions! Denounce the treaties and no to the institutional construction of EU ≠ no to Europe Steal the show! Go to offensive rather than defence! show what we want as a United Europe of Peoples

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EU policies as class warfare a shock therapy for restoring the profits, Implementing the neoliberal counter-reforms guaranteeing the financial rents and the financial claims on future production – why the crisis takes the form of a sovereign debt crisis

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This crisis reveals that the previous neoliberal project for Europe was not viable. Differences between countries increased due to their place in the global market, to their sensitivity to the euro exchange rate. Inflation rates didn’t converge low real interest rates favored intense capital flows among countries and financial and housing bubbles. contradictions exacerbated with the implementation of the monetary exploded with the speculative attacks against the sovereign debts of the most exposed countries. A false dilemma: – a risky ‘exit’ from the eurozone – a utopian European harmonization emerging out of the workers’ struggles

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A strategy of rupture with “euroliberalism” the confrontations of class struggle takes place primarily within a national framework the resistance of the dominant classes and their possible retaliatory measures exceed the national framework. The strategy of leaving the euro does not concentrate on an effort for a European alternative A strategy of rupture with “euroliberalism” is required in order to generate the means for an alternative policy. concentrate on the fight for a majority for a left government, able to get rid of this straightjacket three ruptures – financing of the past and future issues of sovereign debt – cancellation of the illegitimate debt – socialization of banks for the control of credit.

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Getting rid of the financial markets and managing the deficit a left government should find ways to finance the public deficit outside the financial markets. rupture with the European rules which forbid some of them a wide range of possible measures which are not new and have been used in the past in various European countries – a forced loan on the richer households; – the obligation for banks to a quota of public bonds; – bold taxes on international transfers of dividends and capital operations, etc. – a radical fiscal reform. the deficit financed by the national central bank, as in the US, Britain, Japan. – create a special bank allowed to refinance itself with the central bank, but principally devoted to buy public

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restructuring the debt a policy of cancellation of the debt and an immediate moratorium on the public debt. ‘we cannot serve the debt stealing wages and pensions, and we won’t’. organize a citizens’ audit to target illegitimate debt – the past “fiscal gifts” to richest households, corporations and “rentiers” – the “illegal” tax privileges: tax evasion, tax optimization, tax havens and amnesties – the bailouts of banks since the burst of the crisis – the debt created by the debt itself, through the snow ball effect created by the difference between interest rates and GDP growth rates, as damaged by austerity and unemployment policies. Aim: canceling a large part of debt

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socialization of banks for the control of credit the control of international movements of capital, the control of credit the socialization of banks.

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“no sacrifice for the Euro” approach of Syriza Syriza led a campaign on the essential themes we stand for : – to cancel the memorandum – to restructure the debt protecting the wages and pensions and the social services of health, education and social security.

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rupture with ‘euro-liberalism left government with popular support, must be ready to use the means necessary to confront the financial interests, – measures of nationalization of strategic sectors – A direct confrontation with the Merkel government, the ECB and the European Commission. The defense of democracy and social achievements should be deepened at a supranational level. This confrontation should not see the euro as a taboo, have alternative options open including leaving the euro either if no other alternative is possible in the European framework or if the European authorities force it. However this should not be the starting point.

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Exiting the Euro is not a good starting point rupture - Consequences of exit Euro not an optimum currency; single currency w/o fiscal union but consequences of exit? – Competitiveness, independent monetary policy? – Beggar thy neighbour currency wars –shuts down international solidarity; no gain in competitiveness – Devaluation= an increase in the costs of imported inputs, inflation not much gain in competitiveness: the initial positive effects of devaluation on exports are offset within a couple of years – real wages ↓>30% – 1930s style great depression – prospects for an isolated socialist transition in a small country amidst global depression? Wealth transfer: the rich have already relocated their wealth

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Common interests of the working people An international attack requires a powerful internationalist alternative Austerity & wage suppression hurt all working people. austerity in Greece or Ireland →default →German and French workers will be asked to bail out their banks. To end the vicious circle of austerity, deepening crises, and bail-outs →default + socialization of banks under workers’ control in both the periphery and the core a united campaign is stronger against the capital flight fiscal transfers within Europe as opposed to isolated national solutions in the periphery – consistent with the interests of the working class in the core – a low wage periphery creates the threat of relocation by the MNEs.

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a strategy of unilateral rupture and extension Progressive solutions based on cooperation in a large number of countries. E.g. if all European countries reduced working time and charged a uniform tax on capital income, such coordination would avoid the backlash in only one country. To pave the way for cooperation, a left government should follow a unilateral strategy combining: 'good' measures unilaterally implemented – the rejection of austerity – the taxation of financial transactions; – capital controls. extend these policies on a European scale to allow these measures to be adopted by member states Acknowledges that the refoundation of Europe cannot be the precondition the strategy is not protectionist in the usual sense since it defends a social transformation emerging from the people and not from the interests of national capitalism in its competition with other capitalists. A 'protectionism for extension’

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Tactical issues a synchronisation of mobilization or significant differences in the speeds of mobilization across Europe? start with an internationalist strategy as opposed to putting hope in nation state level alternatives. if one or more countries in the periphery succeeds in pushing for debt default +radical change→ denounce the treaties → internationalize the struggle Do not underestimate the power of the threat of peripheral countries to leave the Eurozone.

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An alternative programme for Europe Fiscal, monetary, and industrial policy should aim at tackling the multiple crises of employment, inequality, regional divergence, and ecological sustainability. European public investment in renewable energy, infrastructure, public transport, housing create public jobs in labour intensive services -education, child care, nursing homes, health, community and social services & improve pay and working conditions in these industries –Purple jobs for both men and women shorten working hours with wage compensation –in particular in the case of low/median wage earners- redistribution) –more jobs feasible with lower growth

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...An alternative programme for Europe Wage coordination for wage convergence –Europe is wage-led! –Beggar thy neighbour policies are contractionary –Inflationary adjustment in current account surplus countries, not deflationary adjustment in the deficit countries –In the LR: increase productivity in the periphery and achieve convergence via European public investment Strengthening of the bargaining power of labour European Minimum wages, –Relative to median/mean wage in each country European social/unemployment benefits,

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...An alternative programme for Europe a European budget funded by increased progressive taxation of corporations, banks, and the rich. –Progressive at both the European and national levels –90% marginal income tax rate on high income: max income Debt restructuring, audit –open the books –public and banks, and default Eurobonds only as a complimentary tool to debt default + radical tax reform Not to pay back the debt due to socialization of bank losses The European Central Bank should be replaced by a real Central Bank – a Peoples’ Bank of Europe –Monetary policy should accommodate the priorities agreed by a Peoples’ Assembly of Europe and not those of the unelected European Council. –responsible for the supply of funds necessary for green investments and to meet the needs of people and not private financial profits. –Socialize the banks under democratic/participatory control –Capital controls